Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton talks with s referee after a foul was called on his team during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in Boston on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Lonzo Ball wipes his face late in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 107-96 loss to the Boston Celtics in an NBA basketball game in Boston on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope drives on Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

The Celtics’ Kyrie Irving, left, and the Lakers’ Brook Lopez pursue a loose ball during the first quarter of Wednesday’s game in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Boston Celtics’ Aron Baynes hangs from the rim after dunking during the fourth quarter of Boston’s 107-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA basketball game in Boston on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma swings from the rim after dunking during the third quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Celtics in Boston. A night later, Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks showered him with pregame praise. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Lakers forward Julius Randle holds his jersey up to his face after being poked in the eye during the fourth quarter of their 107-96 loss to the Boston Celtics in an NBA basketball game in Boston Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Former Boston Celtics player Paul Pierce acknowledges the crowd after being introduced during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game between the Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers in Boston on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

BOSTON — If anyone came prepared for a rivalry game, it was Celtics fans. It certainly wasn’t the Lakers.

The latest installment of a dormant rivalry began with boos raining down on Lonzo Ball, and with Coach Luke Walton offering a harsh assessment of his team’s play. The Lakers dug an early hole – despite slashing a 21-point second-quarter deficit to two points after halftime – from which they could not recover.

The Celtics won 107-96.

The Lakers’ effort could be traced to an ugly first quarter, in which they were outscored 33-16.

“They punked us,” Walton said.

“They just came out hungry,” rookie Kyle Kuzma said of the Celtics, who have now won 10 games in a row after starting the season 0-2. “The crowd got into it and we were kind of shocked by that a little bit.”

As for the unexpected defense that had become the Lakers’ calling card through 10 games?

“All of that went out the door today,” Walton said.

Although the game was not yet out of hand in the opening period, Walton said the Lakers’ offense was “playing a little selfish” and “defensively we were getting big-boyed.”

He turned to veteran center Andrew Bogut for help, but that only seemed to make matters worse. Boston immediately went on a 10-0 run. A unique lineup featuring Bogut – who before Wednesday had averaged 7.2 minutes in six games – swingman Corey Brewer at power forward and Jordan Clarkson at point guard was outscored 17-5 in the final 5:56 of the first period.

The matchup of teams that have met in 12 NBA Finals has been a rivalry in name only since 2014, when both teams bottomed out as lottery teams. The Celtics began their climb back to the top of the Eastern Conference while the Lakers remained mired in Western Conference irrelevance, getting progressively worse before winning 27 games last season.

It will take more than the effort the Lakers gave on Wednesday, committing 21 turnovers and allowing 25 second-chance points.

All-Star center Al Horford did not play for the Celtics after he experienced headaches Wednesday and was placed in the league’s concussion protocol. That cleared the way for Aron Baynes to make a spot start. The veteran center had a surprising 21 points, a game-high.

The Lakers began their comeback in the second quarter behind a smaller lineup anchored by Julius Randle, who finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Brandon Ingram and Clarkson each scored 18 points to lead the Lakers, and it was Clarkson whose driving layup with 5:42 remaining in the third quarter trimmed the deficit to 76-74.

“On the road it’s kind of hard to fight back after the first quarter that we had,” Ingram said, “but we did fight back and we had a chance to try to take the lead. But that’s a playoff team. They made some big plays down the stretch.”

“He is a great player,” said Ball, who finished with nine points on 4-of-15 shooting. “I said it before the game, one of the best players in the league. Tough challenge having to stay in front of him.”

Ball added six assists and five rebounds, but struggled defensively along with the rest of the team, although he did record a career-high four blocked shots.

As for the boos, Ball acknowledged he heard them, but seemed unaffected.

Bill Oram covers the Los Angeles Lakers for the Southern California News Group. He covered the Utah Jazz for the Salt Lake Tribune. He is the (usually) bearded guy in the background wearing a University of Montana hat.